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What is the value of a remodel, update or upgrade to a home that you're planning to sell? In today's real estate market, it's often hard to recoup the money you spend on a remodel. Here are a few things to consider if you're selling your St. Clair home and think maybe some changes will make the sale faster or at a more attractive price.

Changing How a Space is Used

If you're thinking of converting a small bedroom to a grand master bath, be aware that buyers may look at it as losing a bedroom rather than gaining a bathroom. The same thing can happen when converting a bedroom into an office. If prospective buyers don't use computers or work from home, they might prefer that the bedroom remain a bedroom. Converting a garage to a family room may seem like a brilliant move when you want to have large parties, but for people who would rather have their cars protected than entertain friends and family on a large-scale, a garage-turned-family-room may turn them off.

Adding Something Not Normally Found in Your Neighbors' Homes

Do all your St. Clair neighbors have decks? Yes? Then adding a deck to your home would probably be a good idea. Do all your neighbors have pools? No? Then a lonely pool is probably not going to attract buyers to the neighborhood. Do the neighbors have huge kitchens with granite counters, stainless steel appliances, and solid oak cabinetry with all sorts of specialty nooks and crannies? If not, chances are good that you won't recoup the cost if you try to sell your home using this upgrade to justify a higher price.

Creating a Space that Doesn't Conform to the Rest of Your House

Are you contemplating adding a new family room complete with wood-burning fireplace, natural hardwood floors, a wet bar, built-in entertainment center and book shelves, beamed ceilings, and a wall made of stone native to the area? Sounds like a great idea unless the rest of your house is a 1960's one-story ranch with small bedrooms and eight-foot ceilings. While your home may be quite nice, remodeling a section of it in a totally different style may not work and may in fact make the home harder to sell rather than easier.

If you still can't decide on whether to spend some remodeling money on your home to get a faster sale or a better price, asking your Realtor® for help in making your decision on this matter may be the most advantageous thing to do. Why not call me, Scott Hickinbotham, at 636-629-3419 or contact me online. I have years of experience in buying and selling homes in the St. Clair area and can help you make an informed decision on what your home needs to sell quickly and at the best price.